April 8 Thursday — In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to John A. Macy.
Dear Mr. Macy: / I emptied into my Autobiography some remarks about Mr. Greenwood’s able book, and then took a notion to slam them into Harper’s Monthly: but that would put them off much too long, so I made a booklet of them, to be issued to-day. Now that is too early by three entire weeks, as I found last night when I got back from a week’s absence in the South and read your letter. It’s vexatious! but let it go, it can’t be helped.
I do hope your average reader will not try to read Mr. Booth’s book as I am obliged to read all books; a ten minute glance per day—or per week—with never a chance for one glance till the preceding one has been well and thoroughly forgotten.
I’m telling the Harper’s to send the booklet to you at Boston and also Wrentham, / Yours ever .,. / [MTP]. Note: see Mar. 27 for Macy.
The New York Times, Apr. 9, p.7 ran a squib, datelined Redding, Conn. Apr. 8
Mark Twain Adds 150 Acres to Farm.
REDDING, Conn., April 8—Samuel L. Clemens, (Mark Twain,) has purchased 150 acres of land adjoining his recently acquired property. The “farm,” as the author calls his beautiful estate, now comprises 350 acres of agricultural and wooded tracts, near the centre of which is the Clemens home, The house, an inviting abode, rises from a knoll that commands a far view of the surrounding country,
Sam’s new guestbook:
| Name | Address | Date | Remarks |
| Jervis Langdon | Elmira, N.Y. | (April 8 | |
| Mr. Luther | Indianapolis | ([""] |
William H. Allen for Boston Browning Society, Boston, wrote to advise Sam of a May 7 celebration of Browning’s birthday, where original tributes in prose and verse would be read. “Will you not honour the occasion by sending us something, or, still better, by coming in person to read it?” [MTP].
Hyrell Hawkes wrote from Hamilton, Ill. to Sam. Hawkes had an old desk that his father bought from Orion before he went West. The desk had belonged to Sam’s father. “In one of the numerous small drawers was found a sheet of the Hannibal Commercial Advertiser Sep 14, 1839—with Clemens Esq written across the side.” He had rec’d several offers for the desk but thought it might mean more to Sam than to anyone [MTP].
Edwin Wildman for M.A.P. Magazine and News Service, NYC wrote to Sam. The magazine was preparing an article upon “Those Who Make Us Laugh” and asked Sam’s view on “What is Humor?” [MTP].